Tonga psychiatrist Dr. Mapa Puloka supports charges for attempted suicide Featured
Dr. Mapa Puloka Head of the Psychiatric unit at Vaiola Hospital
19 December, 2016. A psychiatrist in Tonga is supporting police charging people who have attempted suicide.
Tonga Police said the number of charges laid for attempted suicide in the country was rising and there was a need for more mental health support in the country.
Under the Criminal Offences Act, convictions for attempted suicide can be punishable with up to three years imprisonment.
Dr Mapa Puloka, who heads the Psychiatric unit at Vaiola Hospital, said enforcing the Act may act as a deterrent to others who are suicidal.
Dr Puloka said it also forces the person to undertake counselling.
"The magistrate will allow us to continue on with the counselling and the treatment. Once you decriminalise it, people won't come back for counselling and treatment. But still if you still remain as a crime, you have to force people to come to us for counselling and also treatment."
-RNZI
